Redberry Lane to hold on
NARROW: SHE SUFFERED A NARROW LOSS AT THE HOOVES OF NOTHER RUSSIA
The other possible banker is well-weighted Shogun in Race 9.
The Place Accumulator might be the way to play at the night meeting at Turffontein tomorrow. There are two promising place bankers on the programme, Redberry Lane in Race 8 and Shogun in Race 9.
Sean Tarry-trained Redberry Lane runs in a FM 84 Handicap over 1600m and comes off a good second behind top-class Nother Russia (won again next time) over 1400m here.
Nother Russia swooped late that day so apprentice Lyle Hewitson and Redberry Lane did not have much time to rally, which makes it a most promising run her first after a six-month break. She led for much of that race and should be sharper now.
Nother Russia was nowhere near her brilliant best and those who doubt the form should consider adding Smokey Affair, Faraway Island (formerly Martha’s Vineyard), Banking April or Ossetra into their perms.
Shogun, from the stable of Ormond Ferraris and to be ridden by Gavin Lerena, is consistently thereabouts and at these weights should have little trouble finishing in the first three in this MR 78 Handicap over 1600m.
He last won in July, when beating National Key by a neck and has not been beaten further than 4.30 lengths in his six races since.
One of those races was a 1600m event at the Vaal where he was beaten a neck by Pilou with Tommy Waterdevil two lengths behind him in third and Man’s Inn another 0.75 lengths back in fourth. He is well in at the weights with both those runners and should confirm the form.
Shogun might not have enjoyed the yielding going last time out, when a 2.75-length fifth behind Chepardo over 1400m.
The one for the Exactas might be Jackman, who was beaten a neck by Tommy Waterdevil over 1600m on the Inside track last time out and should turn the tables at the revised weights.
Punters who put their faith in Mike de Kock will also consider Rajasthani Queen as a Place Accumulator banker in Race 6 over 1800m.
She was disappointing in her first outing following her debut win, when never making an impact and finishing ninth behind Fly North over 1200m at the Vaal last month. A veterinary examination immediately after the race revealed nothing immediately amiss with the Greys Inn filly but that run was just too bad to be true.
If anything had been wrong, the stable would not be turning her out again so soon so it might pay to disregard that effort.
Admittedly her very good first win came over 1000m and she will be running much further this time.
That is where the leap of faith comes in, although on breeding there is every possibility she will get the trip.